The Law Commission of India, in consonance with the plea by the Central Government to reconsider whether Section 124A of the IPC, 1860 needs to be retained or not, has in 279th Law Commission Report (LCR) recommended that the provision should be retained with certain amendments. The report declined to accept that the said provision has colonial legacy and proposed amendments such as – preliminary enquiry by a Police Inspector, approval from the Central or State Government before filling an FIR and increase in punishment from 3 years, at present, to 7 years or up to life imprisonment with fine.
